On Saturday, Helene Røsholt can be elected as one of Telemark Høyre’s leading parliamentary candidates. The nomination committee has already nominated the group leader in Skien Høyre for second place on the Storting list. – Assistance with a will In the Brønnøysund registers, the city council representative in Skien is listed as the owner of the sole proprietorship Helene Røsholt. The company was registered in April 2014. Røsholt confirms to news that she established the sole proprietorship to provide legal advice and teaching. She says there hasn’t been much activity in this company, but confirms having assisted private individuals with setting up wills and others with drafting cohabitation contracts. Denies that she provided legal aid – Around ten years ago, I received a handful of requests via acquaintances who knew that I taught, prepared exam papers and was an examiner in, among other things, family and inheritance law. They asked if I could provide guidance in relation to cohabitation contracts and wills, says Røsholt. The right-wing politician emphasizes that she made it absolutely clear that she was not a lawyer and could not assume legal responsibility, but only answer questions for the processes. – I was not responsible for witnesses, signing or formal formal requirements. I am therefore of the opinion that I have not provided legal aid, but if I have misinterpreted it, I apologize profusely. That has not been the intention at all, says Røsholt. Not completed legal education The Conservative politician is open to news that she has not completed her legal education. She is therefore not a lawyer, or has a lawyer’s licence. – I have 240 credits in legal subjects at the University of Oslo, but now work as a teacher, says Røsholt. The sole proprietorship is still active, but Røsholt says she now wants to dissolve it. – It must cease and there is currently no activity in the company. She adds that she has never advertised for the company nor had an office of her own. According to Røsholt, the turnover has always been well below NOK 50,000 a year. – Obvious legal aid Wessel-Aas has no doubt that paid assistance in preparing wills and cohabitation contracts can be considered legal aid activities. Lawyer Jon Wessel-Aas at the Glittertind law firm. Photo: Margret Helland – It is quite obvious legal aid, and to offer such legal aid – with a few exceptions that are not relevant here – a lawyer’s license is required. Wessel-Aas, who is a partner in the Glittertind law firm, refers to section 218 of the Courts Act. It says in black and white that anyone who wants to practice legal aid must be licensed as a lawyer. – It is not enough to be a lawyer if you want to sell legal services or legal advice. Then you must have a lawyer’s licence, states Wessel-Aas. According to section 234 of the Courts Act, such offenses can be punished with fines or imprisonment for up to three months. – Can be reported to the police It is the Supervisory Board for legal professions that will supervise the country’s practicing lawyers and paralegals. The Supervisory Board also issues all types of permits to practice law and legal aid activities. – In cases where we are made aware that illegal legal aid is being provided, we can contact the person concerned and ask for an explanation. We can demand that the business be wound up and, as a last resort, report the matter to the police. This is according to assistant director Jonas Haugsvold in the supervisory board, who emphasizes that he is speaking on a general basis. Possibilities for a seat in the Storting If the Conservative Party’s support in recent opinion polls holds up until the election next autumn, there is a good chance that the party will get two representatives from Telemark. The average of the opinion polls in August would have given the Conservative Party two parliamentary representatives from Telemark. The cross-section of the surveys for September shows that the Conservative Party, through a so-called equalization mandate, would have received two representatives from Telemark. Dag Ingvar Jacobsen is professor at the Department of Political Science and Management at the University of Agder. Professor Dag Ingvar Jacobsen at the Department of Political Science and Management at the University of Agder. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk He believes it is important that the media mention matters that contribute to transparency about politics in Norway. – This should clearly be of interest to the voters. I don’t think anyone should be against such things coming out, and there is really no way to put a lid on it. – Weakens trust in politicians The professor also believes that such conditions can weaken voters’ trust in politicians. – If this had been the only case, I would have said that it was a trifle. We now have more than two years behind us with a series of revelations, both regarding the government and the Storting, which show that politicians have committed offenses or interpreted the law in a very broad way. He believes the case with Røsholt fits into a narrative that different rules apply to politicians than to other people. – Overall, this helps to weaken trust in politicians, says Jacobsen. Published 01.11.2024, at 18.57
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Høre top sold legal advice – does not have a lawyer’s license – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
